One of the best perks of writing about cars is getting into auto shows before the general public. If you’ve even been to a big auto show in a major city to actually research a specific car, you know what a hassle it is to wait behind a gaggle of 8 year-olds, who are gleefully tearing apart the interior of the car you’re actually shopping for, as dad documents the carnage with a camera for the relatives to laugh at. It’s funny, because it isn’t HIS car the kids are wrecking.
In this short video, Horatiu Boeriu of BMW Blog takes us behind the scenes at BMW’s Detroit Auto Show booth. Key highlights include a restyled Z4 (which looks hot in Valencia Orange with a black roof), the M6 Gran Coupe and the new 4 Series coupe. If you’re wondering exactly what the 4 Series is, it’s just a new naming convention from BMW. Moving forward, the 3 Series name will be used on sedans and station wagons, while the 4 Series name will be used on coupes and convertibles. The 4 Series coupe, then, is just the new 3 Series coupe with a more descriptive name.
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While BMW stops short of saying the 4 Series will come in an xDrive version, it’s logical and safe to assume such a car will follow the rear-drive version to market. The same applies to the use of in-line six-cylinder engines instead of just turbocharged fours; by pointing out that the hood length allows for the use of the larger engine, BMW is telling us to expect it. As for design, expect the production 4 Series models to closely match the styling of the concept seen here.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
